Last night, my kid starts asking for a pony. Specifically, "If you had to choose between a really really tasty meal, and a pony, which would you pick?" We made sure she didn't mean to eat, and then started discussing the amount of room we would need for a pony. I looked up the current size of ponies, and found this article:

“In the last 50 years, breeders have made very good progress at making a very small horse, but they periodically hit these speed bumps,” said Brooks. “It takes a while to work them out so that you end up with a horse that not only fits in the palm of your hand but is happy and healthy.”

In it, they discuss that in the next century, we will likely get teacup ponies. So, that's the idea behind this poll.

If I could have an actual, palm sized pony that was otherwise identical to a regular sized horse, I don't think I would. I might consider it but at that size, it would be dangerous for it to roam freely (danger of squishing it) so you would need a terrarium and that takes away most of the 'social' interaction of the pet (like with a dog or whatever) so there is not much interest for me there. I guess maybe if I had some small lizards in a large terarium, I might consider a micro Arabian breed to keep them company in their desert abode. If they didn't try to eat it, that is.

Teacup horses? No chance. Look at the size of the head of Einstein. They can shrink the body but the head continues to be an ever larger part, to the point where the horse couldn't stand if the head was half the size of the body. And is Einstein still a foal?

Dwarf humans are ungainly and fragile. The small animals must make it to adulthood and breed.

While in theory I would love a pony the size of a dog there are still too many issues with fucking around with animal DNA.

I don't think the point of the thread was to be concerned about the genetic drawbacks. I think it was more of a, "If you could have this and all the genetic problems were corrected so that it was just a normal horse that happened to be very small, would you want one," question.

I personally would not. Having grown up with horses, I like the majestic nature of the normal ones. I like riding then and interacting with them in a way that is mutually respectful.

While in theory I would love a pony the size of a dog there are still too many issues with fucking around with animal DNA.

I don't think the point of the thread was to be concerned about the genetic drawbacks. I think it was more of a, "If you could have this and all the genetic problems were corrected so that it was just a normal horse that happened to be very small, would you want one," question.

I personally would not. Having grown up with horses, I like the majestic nature of the normal ones. I like riding then and interacting with them in a way that is mutually respectful.

Teacup horses? No chance. Look at the size of the head of Einstein. They can shrink the body but the head continues to be an ever larger part, to the point where the horse couldn't stand if the head was half the size of the body. And is Einstein still a foal?

Dwarf humans are ungainly and fragile. The small animals must make it to adulthood and breed.

A teacup (hand/palm size) horse may not be attainable, but breeding work with dogs would indicate that a horse the size of a small-to-medium size dog would be plausible-- compare a toy or teacup poodle to a standard poodle if you need an example (standard poodles are pretty big dogs).

The key would be to breed for small adult size, but not dwarfism. Those are two distinct traits.

Although I don't really see the point. Such a horse would be too small to serve as a riding or work animal, and most horses I've met don't have the temperament to be a "companion" pet like a dog or a cat.

Teacup horses? No chance. Look at the size of the head of Einstein. They can shrink the body but the head continues to be an ever larger part, to the point where the horse couldn't stand if the head was half the size of the body. And is Einstein still a foal?

Dwarf humans are ungainly and fragile. The small animals must make it to adulthood and breed.

A teacup (hand/palm size) horse may not be attainable, but breeding work with dogs would indicate that a horse the size of a small-to-medium size dog would be plausible-- compare a toy or teacup poodle to a standard poodle if you need an example (standard poodles are pretty big dogs).

Dogs seem to be the exception rather than the rule for that; off the top of my head I cannot think of any other species that has such a wide range of adult sizes.

Miniature ponies make awesome pets and I encourage their responsible breeding and ownership. They're also making a name for themselves as service animals. Zoning laws have yet to catch up unfortunately. In many jurisdictions the mini pony is considered urban livestock and either banned outright or has strict code requirements for ownership. Make you check your local laws before getting the wee one fired up.

Goats can also be awesome pets, but they have brains the size of a single skittle and can get into the damnedest predicaments. However if you feed them well and live in a city with an active urban agriculture scene they literally shit money.

Edit: Ah, you're referring to a hypothetical toy-dog size pony. I cannot see any logical reason behind such a creature, other than giving a breeder something to brag about.

Ah, you're referring to a hypothetical toy-dog size pony. I cannot see any logical reason behind such a creature, other than giving a breeder something to brag about.

That's because it doesn't involve logic. The question is if you would want one. I personally would not, but then again I don't want a teacup dog either. Often, people don't pick a pet based upon logic. (even if they should) They pick it because of an illogical interest, like cuteness.

Ah, you're referring to a hypothetical toy-dog size pony. I cannot see any logical reason behind such a creature, other than giving a breeder something to brag about.

That's because it doesn't involve logic. The question is if you would want one. I personally would not, but then again I don't want a teacup dog either. Often, people don't pick a pet based upon logic. (even if they should) They pick it because of an illogical interest, like cuteness.

applying science to a girlie thing. That makes no logical sense spock!

I haven't been around horses enough to know their general intelligence level/temperament, but I think the fact that they just crap wherever they are standing would put a big damper on any pet plans, regardless of their size.

Quote:

If you want an herbivore the size of a medium sized dog why not just get a pygmy goat?

Goats are mean. You really don't want to be around one if you don't have to.

I think a lot of people greatly underestimate the amount of engineering and breeding it has taken to get cats and dogs to their current human friendly state.

The reason why we have a wide range of dogs is because people wanted dogs that fit in tiny-stupid apartments in Manhattan. We also selected for a variety of other bizarre things we wanted dogs to do/be. We haven't taken any other animals and bred them for such variety. Most animals are bred for meat, and all the other pets came in the desired size range.

The reason why we have a wide range of dogs is because people wanted dogs that fit in tiny-stupid apartments in Manhattan. We also selected for a variety of other bizarre things we wanted dogs to do/be. We haven't taken any other animals and bred them for such variety. Most animals are bred for meat, and all the other pets came in the desired size range.

team of Swedish researchers has compared the genomes of wolves and dogs and found that a big difference between the two is a dog’s ability to easily digest starch. On its way from pack-hunting carnivore to fireside companion, dogs learned to love — or at least live on — wheat, rice, barley, corn and potatoes.

As it turns out, that’s also a change that human beings underwent as they came out of the forest, built permanent settlements and began to grow grain.

“I think it is a striking case of co-evolution,” said Erik Axelsson, a geneticist at Uppsala University. “The fact that we shared a similar environment in the last 10,000 years caused a similar adaptation. And the big change in the environment was the development of agriculture.”